Public Consultation
In January 2009, VAFFC submitted a Project Description Report (PDR) to the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) in support of its application made in late November 2008 to have the project reviewed under the BC Environmental Assessment Act. The PDR presents an overview of the proposed project. Elements of the project have not yet been finalized and are still subject to public and First Nations consultation and regulatory review and approval.
As the first stage of public outreach, VAFFC held information sessions in late February and early March, 2009 with public and First Nation consultation continuing since that time. A range of topics were discussed at these sessions, including the need for the project, safety, the environment, the evaluation of delivery options and pipeline alignment options.
People were encouraged to offer their feedback by attending one of the sessions and filling out a feedback form. The feedback will be used to refine elements of the proposed project's design and assist in defining ongoing environmental and technical studies. For more information, please review the Information Sessions Summary Report.
Pre-Application
Consultation The proposed project has now entered a harmonized federal/provincial environmental assessment process, with the EAO coordinating the review requirements of both the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) and BC Environmental Assessment Act (BCEAA). The review process will provide a thorough study of the project’s impacts and benefits, and include an extensive public consultation program.
The proposed
project is currently in the pre-application phase of the process - the
preparation of draft Application Information Requirements (dAIR)
for an Environmental Assessment Certificate. The dAIR will specify the studies
to be conducted and the detailed information to be provided by VAFFC in its
application.
VAFFC submitted
its dAIR to the EAO in spring 2010, and the EAO invited the public to comment
on the document between April 12 and May 27, 2010. As part of this public
comment period, an open house was held in Richmond on April 14, 2010.
After taking public comments into account, the EAO will finalize and approve
the Application Information Requirements, and issue them to VAFFC. Once the
document is finalized, VAFFC will post it on this site.
Additional open
houses to seek input on the preliminary design of the proposed project were
planned for late spring and early summer, but have been postponed to the fall.
In
addition to the BC Environmental Assessment procedure, the proposed project
will be subject to review under the regulatory and legislative requirements
that will include:
-
Port Metro Vancouver Environmental Assessment Process
-
Vancouver Airport Authority Development Permit, Facility Permit
and Environmental Assessment Processes
-
Fraser River Estuary Management Program Coordinated Project Review
Process
-
BC Oil and Gas Commission - Pipeline Act
- City of Richmond
Development Permit Process
PROVIDE FEEDBACK MAILING ADDRESS
Fuel Delivery Project
Box 34, 505 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V7X 1M4
Phone: 604-638-7463 Fax: 604-684-6981
Email: info@vancouverairportfuel.ca | 
Materials from the 2009 Information Sessions are also available for download.
BrochureComment formPresentation boards The presentation boards used at the dAIR Open House are available for download. dAIR Open House presentation boards
The following letter to the editor was published in the Richmond Review and Richmond News in late April.
Letter to the editor
Editor:
Much has been reported on Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation's (VAFFC) proposed jet fuel delivery system. Following recent local and regional media coverage, we wish to clarify the project benefits and scope of consultation.
VAFFC's proposed project includes a number of benefits to both local and regional communities. Significant and rising numbers of trucks will be removed from our streets and highways, airlines will benefit from an expanded fuel supply market, and the long-term growth of Vancouver International Airport and the region will continue to be supported.
The proposal has entered a harmonized federal/provincial environmental assessment process, which involves a thorough review by technical experts and representatives of First Nations, provincial and federal government agencies, YVR, the Corporation of Delta and the City of Richmond. The project is currently in the pre-application phase of the environmental review process, which means the project is a long way from receiving regulatory approval. Although several open houses and presentations to Richmond council have already been held, VAFFC will conduct further public consultation on the project's pre-design phase later this spring or early summer prior to the application phase.
The alternatives to the proposed project have been thoroughly reviewed for their potential economic, environmental, social and regulatory impacts. After weighing the relative merits of each option, the proposed project emerged as the preferred concept as it provides the best access to fuel supply, a shorter and newer pipeline, fewer marine deliveries, shorter marine transit through the Port of Vancouver, and eliminating the need for tanker trucks from the U.S. through Richmond.
In April 2009, at the request of the City of Richmond, we prepared a memo outlining the relative pros and cons of the highest ranked alternatives, including a list of some of the technical and regulatory challenges, and the rationale for selecting the preferred option. This memo is available in the public consultation section on our website (vancouverairportfuel.ca). We believe the proposed project best meets safety, environmental, technical and financial criteria, and offers long-term reliability and security of fuel supply to YVR, which is Richmond's largest employer.
Adrian Pollard Project Director Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation
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